The Next Chapter

Shelagh's 1993 interview with W. O. Mitchell

This week marks the centenary of W. O. Mitchell's birth. The beloved author is best known for his classic novel of prairie life, Who Has Seen the Wind, which is so iconic that actor Donald Sutherland quoted from it as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver....
This week marks the centenary of W. O. Mitchell's birth. The beloved author is best known for his classic novel of prairie life, Who Has Seen the Wind, which is so iconic that actor Donald Sutherland quoted from it as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.


W.O. passed away in 1998. Over the course of his 60-year career, this grand old man of Canadian letters wrote fiction, plays, a radio series ( Jake and the Kid, which aired on CBC Radio) and film scripts, and won numerous awards, including the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour (twice). He was regarded as Canada's Mark Twain. This week, centenary tributes will take place at the University of Calgary and in High River, Alberta.

Shelagh had a chance to talk with W.O. about his life and work in 1993. We hope you enjoy their conversation!